PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 |
Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED IN TWO CROWN CORPORATIONS
Ottawa, March 29, 2010 -
The Great Lakes Pilotage Authority and VIA Rail Canada Inc. need to correct significant deficiencies in their management systems and practices, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts presented to the House of Commons today.
The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) conducts special examinations of most Crown corporations at least once every ten years. A summary of the results of the special examinations completed in 2008 was included in the Auditor General’s May 2009 Report. The Public Accounts Committee decided to hold a hearing on the special examinations of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority and VIA Rail Canada Inc.
The Committee agreed with the OAG that the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority needs to do more to ensure that Canadian masters and deck watch officers have the qualifications and competencies needed to safely navigate Canadian ships within the Great Lakes. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that the government move forward with proposed changes to the Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations.
The Committee was concerned that VIA Rail Canada Inc. would not be able to fulfill its corporate plan because its targets for increased ridership and revenue may not be realistic. If VIA Rail is not able to meet its targets, passenger rail service in Canada could be compromised. The Committee requested a status report from VIA Rail in order to monitor VIA Rail’s ability to sustain its passenger rail service.
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